So lookit. It’s been a long time. I get that you’re probably wondering if I’ve crawled into a cave with Channing Tatum, but the truth is, he’s married. I know you don’t want to hear excuses, but I wrapped my show The LA Complex (watch that shit here if you’re in the Canadas or on Hulu if you get to vote for Obama), I moved houses, I took four trips to four different locales for four different conventions, and I slept. A lot. Or slept-walked through the shoe department at Holt Renfrew, but listen: I’m back.

And I’m in love.

For those of you that loyally read this mess, it’s true that I’ve gone on many a tangent about my beautiful, beloved city of Vancouver. But can you blame me? Besides being the place of my birth, which already defines it as a Holy Land, it’s a totally unique and intoxicating little haven of yoga-worshipping, green-living do-gooders, pretty little beaches surrounded in snow-capped mountains, artsy hipster types and charming expats and culturally diverse pockets of neighbourhood that make it the expansive and always expanding city that it is. Sure, it rains a lot. But we choose to view it as a romantic thing. Ever seen a movie where the once-was-doomed couple reconcile while kissing in the sunshine? Rain = more make-outs. Trust. Also, I saw Ryan Gosling here once.

So I need to fill you in on my new favorite lunch spot in the ‘Couv, because it is not to be missed if you ever find yourself here in the city of make-outs. It’s teeny, so you may end up waiting for a table, but suck it up, Princess. It’s called Finch’s, it’s on West Pender, and if you like delicious things, it’s going to change your world.

Finch’s likes to call themselves a teahouse, and yeah, you can probably get a tea here if you’re one of those, but that’s not what all the fuss is about. Whoever the mastermind is that’s responsible for this place has perfected two of the lunch items I desire most on this planet: sandwiches and cookies. These are not your ordinary sandwiches. Freshly baked baguettes stuffed with obscene amounts of premium ingredients like prosciutto with blue brie, pear, and roasted walnuts, or gypsy salami with red leaf lettuce, tomato, and pesto-mayo. They even have vegetarian versions with smoked applewood cheddar, cucumber, and dijon-mayo, or free-range egg salad, or baked brie and grape…. It’s ridiculous. If you’re one of those freaks that stays away from bread (seriously, is everything okay?), they have insanely generous cheese plates, beautiful salads, and an always-amazing soup of the day, too.

But lemme go off about these cookies. I’ve got a soft spot for a good cookie, and next to cheese burgers and Valentino purses, they are my biggest weakness. Finch’s cookies are misshapen lumps of doughy, sweet, crumbly, buttery messes of glory. I have been known to horde them on my person for an attitude adjustment if one is needed throughout the day. I don’t understand why they are so good, and I don’t think I want to. I just want them in my mouth. There are two kinds, chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin, and I’m sure I don’t have to say it out loud, but go with the chocolate chip and do not for the love of Christ buy just one. They sell out fast, and you need to be smart about this. Also, Finch’s on the whole is becoming rather popular, so get there before 3pm to avoid the disaster of them running out of baguettes or WORSE, COOKIES.

Only gripe? They don’t serve wine. And this bird enjoys a little Sancerre with her baguette. In other news by the way of things that don’t surprise you, stay tuned for yet another wine-tasting blog, as well as a rather messy “afternoon tea” excursion with The Wives. How much you wanna bet Buzz is going to get us kicked out of that tea parlour?

37 Comments

Wow, m’lady, hope all is well, I always appreciate west coast mindset, can’t wait till I can come again. SEA, SFO, LAX. I was brought up in Cambria, ca. 93428.
Kids are raised and time to return to the stomping ground. I.E. Everything between B.C. & T.J. mex.
Strawberry fields forever.
BC

Welcome back….took your advice given at LFCC and had cocktails at the Pacific Rim during our visit during the long hot Vancouver summer …didn’t get to eat at Il Giardino sadly, but have a 2nd chance as we’ve just booked to re-visit The Couve next March!..just can’t stay away…

I too was born in Vancouver, back in the day, then moved to Hollywood of all places, now in Silicon Valley building companies. You make me want to come home I’ve missed your stories, glad you’re back, look forward to the next volley. Thank you JBS.

I must confess I found your blog due to my recently acquired obsession over serenity. Half-expecting yet another “blog” by a celebrity (yes, you are!), I was delighted when I realized you are from the city I now live in, and a foodie, and a wine geek (sancere, ha!).

I promptly subscribed to your blog. I took your recommendation and visited “the flying pig” and “ki”. Delicioso, I must say.

I shall remain a devoted fan, and stay subscribed to this wonderful thing you have going here! Hope to see more goodness in the offing. Thank you.

Can’t wait until my oldest daughter and I can come up to BC, she wants to see the pics of orcas, especially after she saw the news feed bout the albino orca. Both of us have been fans of you and both crews ( firefly & Atlantis ) from the start. Best wishes in all your endeavors. Will have to take you up on finch’s, sounds like a happenin place.
BC

Welcome back sweet cheeks.
Its a bit of a bumer that there seems to be all this food goodness
happening over your side of the Atlantic while us Brits are stuck
with soggy cucumber sandwiches and over priced fish and chips.

And I was wondering when this gastronomy geek goddess will be back here. I checked happyopu yesterday in hope that maybe my google reader went haywire but it didn’t and I was sad. But now I’m happy again! And hungry…

OMG You’re back! In full force. and in love with cookies. I didn’t know if my appreciation for your blog could get any bigger. Congrats on proving me wrong. You make me want to move to Vancouver…after I vote for Obama!

Been a while. This post made me want to move to Vancouver! And get cookies! Specialty’s Cafe & Bakery, in CA… lifornia :[, has some huge (4″-5″ diameter, up to 1″ thick :o) delicious semi-sweet chocolate chip cookies. I couldn’t resist. Thanks for your delectable descriptiveness. Sarcasm. D:< I still love you anyway. And so do my love handles.

“Freshly baked baguettes stuffed with obscene amounts of premium ingredients like prosciutto with blue brie, pear, and roasted walnuts” I’ll be in my bunk, LOL! South Carolina to Vancouver is a long haul but I’d make it for THAT sandwich!! Thanks for the tip Jewel. Glad your back:)

Hey, nice post. Glad you’re back on, and I’m looking forward to that wine tasting wrap-up. Just one question: What does a free-range egg salad look like? I keep picturing heads of lettuce out getting their exercise….

Yeah, too bad you wrapped on the Comp . . . lex . . . LA Complex. Raquel was one of the best characters.
Nice blog entry. It has made me hungry. I used to go to Vancouver a lot for work and one thing I got addicted to was your alls’ (sp?) Bounty Bars. Our watered down candy down here in the U.S. is so inferior to yours–which is no wonder b/c we are all gluttonous fatties who find stuff like Bounty Bars and make no effort to control ourselves as we bulldoze through a whole box . . . that we got at the Costco in Richland.

Finally, another entry! A great read – although I will likely never make it to Vancouver. My meager resources are expended on my endeavor to visit Walt Disney World every other year! Perhaps someday you could spend some time at Epcot in World Showcase and recommend the best wine and dine options there! Still, reading your blog is always entertaining. Can’t wait for the next wine adventure. I’m planning one for Christmas Eve! Should be a real blast!

Jewel, you and your ruminations on food have been much missed. And now you’ve gone back to Van. My fingers are crossed for more interesting insights on great eats back here in Toronto. Alas I fear those will have to wait while your home-town seduces you with it’s much more open-minded views on food trucks and eclectic eateries. Just add it to the list of why I need to fly back to your fair city…

I was just thinking I had not seen one of your blogs lately. No wonder I was not smiling too much. What a delight to see this in my email box today, (I am behind in everything). You made me laugh and you made me hungry. Looking forward to seeing that Firefly special on the Science channel here in the states. Have a wonderful Fall and don’t be such a stranger!

I know you all already know this but……… I’m sat at home with a rubbish head cold. I’ve just discovered the Firefly series on Netflix over here (better late than never) and then, after a quick google, Jewel does a food blog. So happy! Anyway back to the plasma tv, c’mon you remember what it was like, the first time round. Now where can I get a big, juicy cheeseburger? Ta very much!